The first storm has come and gone. The injury, confusion, and stress of coping with the debris, the cramped living conditions, and the loss of your property stays. Your insurance company adjusters
More »

How many companies can you compare by shopping online or offline? It’s highly likely that the former option will be a better alternative unless you’re Superman. If you are interested in locating
More »

Lake superior can make a person feel trivial, and fisherman in small boats understand this better than anyone. Occasionally outstanding challenges freighters and ore boats. Yet many years past canoes supplied transport
More »

If you run a taxi firm then you’ll know that getting the right policy at the right price is vital.

Below are the different types of taxi insurance that are available as well as some ways to save money.

Types of taxi insurance

Road risks – Road risks cover is the minimum level of protection needed in order to make your taxis road legal. Any taxi insurance policy will have road risks covered included. You can choose from a third party only policy all the way up to fully comprehensive.

Fleet insurance – Fleet insurance is a very useful type of cover for taxi firms since it enables you to cover all the vehicles that you own under the same policy. This applies to vehicles of different values as well as different vehicle types.

Liability cover – Liability cover is something that every taxi firm should have in place. If one of your drivers were to be involved in incident where a member of public were injured or killed; or even just felt they were wronged in some way, you could end up facing a liability claim.

Legal expenses – If you did have a liability claim filed against your business then you’d need to fight it in court if you didn’t want to settle. In this case you’d want to know that you can afford the legal expenses. This is why this is such a useful type of cover to have.

Ways to save money on taxi insurance

Get a fleet policy – Fleet insurance usually works out being cheaper than insuring vehicles individually in most cases. Even if you only have a relatively small fleet, it’s still worth considering a fleet policy if you want to save money.

Hire good drivers – Hiring good drivers is another way to save money on taxi insurance. Generally the best type of drivers to hire are those who are over 30, have plenty of driving experience and have no convictions.

Pay annually – You can also save money on taxi insurance by paying for your policy annually rather than monthly. This isn’t affordable in all cases but most insurance providers will offer you a discount for paying in this way.

Getting the right policy

Third party – Third party is the cheapest type of cover you can get but also provides the least protection. It will make all the vehicles on the policy road legal but it will only provide cover for other road users’ if you or one of your family is to blame for a collision.

Third party, fire and theft – This is a good option if you want to keep costs down but add more protection for your vehicles.

Comprehensive – A comprehensive policy will provide the most protection for the vehicles on the policy, since they’ll be covered even for accidents where you’re liable.

Breakdown assistance – Breakdown assistance can be added to a family fleet insurance policy and is certainly worth getting if you don’t already have cover.

Factors that determine cost

Number of vehicles – The number of vehicles on the policy is certainly something that will affect the cost. A typical family fleet insurance policy will usually include around 3-5 vehicles, although the number of vehicles isn’t the only thing that determines cost.

Value of vehicles – The value of the vehicles on the policy is another key thing that will affect its price. The value of the vehicles might vary a lot so this will be taken into account.

Named drivers – The named drivers on the policy will also affect the cost. Younger drivers are always more expensive to insure so if you have any teenagers on the policy then this will certainly bump the price up.

Where the vehicles are parked – Where the vehicles are parked is very important when it comes to price. The best scenario is to have a locked garage for them but failing that a driveway is better than the vehicles being parked on the street.

Whether you’re an owner driver taxi driver or you own a taxi rank and have a fleet of vehicles, you need to get the right type of cover.

Getting insurance is one of the main overheads for many businesses and taxi ranks are no exception. Below are some of the main types of taxi insurance available and where you can find cover.

Types of cover

Fleet insurance – For example many taxi firms have at least one minibus. You can get a minibus insurance policy for the vehicle(s) but with fleet insurance you’re able to cover cars, minibuses etc. under the same policy. This not only makes things easier to manage but it usually works out cheaper too.

Third party – Third party insurance is the minimum level of cover required in order to make a vehicle road legal. In provides protection for other motorists’ vehicles if you’re involved in a collision where you’re at fault. This is the cheapest type of cover.

Comprehensive – A comprehensive policy will provide full protection for all types of collisions, even those that you or one of your drivers are to blame for. Comprehensive insurance typically includes fire and theft cover but this can vary.

Public liability – Public liability insurance is always something that taxi firms need to have. It will provide protection in the event of a liability claim being filed against your company. You can also have legal expenses included.

Breakdown recovery – Breakdown recovery is another very useful type of cover to have included with a taxi insurance policy. Most insurance providers will give the option of having it including in your policy at an additional cost.

Where to get cover

There are many insurance providers out there who offer taxi insurance so it can be tricky to know where to start. By far the most convenient way of getting taxi insurance quotes is to use an insurance comparison service.

Using an insurance comparison service makes getting quotes very easy and also enables you to easily choose the type of cover you want. Be sure to compare all the quotes you get and pick out the one that has the cover you need at the best price.

If you work as a freelance recovery truck driver; or you own a company with multiple recovery trucks – you want to make sure you get the best type of policy possible.

Below are some of the main types of cover you can get with a recovery truck insurance policy as well as some of the best ways to save money.

Types of cover

Road risks – Road risks is the most basic type of cover you need for a recovery truck. It will allow your truck(s) to be driven legally and ensure that you’re covered if you’re involved in a collision. You can choose the level of cover you want based on your budget.

Liability claims – Liability claims are a risk for all types of trucking firms so you definitely want to have public liability cover included in your policy. You might also choose to get employer’s liability, which will protect you from claims from your employees.

Legal fees – If you have to fight a liability claim then the legal expenses can add up very quickly. Therefore it’s always a good idea to have legal expenses included as part of your policy.

Breakdown recovery – Recovery trucks themselves of course need to prepare for unexpected breakdowns. You can often save money by having breakdown recovery included as part of your policy when compared to getting it from a third party provider.

Loss of licence – If you work as an owner-driver and were to lose your licence for whatever reason, then this type of cover would ensure you were financially compensated until you were able to re-obtain your licence.

How to save money

Get a limited mileage policy – If you only work part-time as a recovery truck driver then you can save a significant amount of money by getting a limited mileage policy. As the name implies – this is where you and your insurance provider agree to a certain number of miles that you’ll stay under for the duration of the policy.

Pay annually – Paying upfront will enable you to negotiate a lower rate with insurance providers.

Get a fleet policy – Fleet policies are nearly always the best option when you have multiple trucks to insure since they not only save you time but also money too.

If you have a passion for cars then working in the motor trade could be the perfect career path for you.

If you want to work in the motor trade then you have two main choices – working for somebody else, or setting up on your own. Below are the pros and cons of both.

Working for someone else

Pros

A steady income – One of the main benefits of working for an already-established business is that you’ll have a steady wage that you can rely on each week. This might seem like a basic thing but when you’re first starting out in the motor trade, it can be hard to turn a profit.

Gain invaluable experience – Another big benefit of working for another company is that you’ll gain invaluable experience which you’ll be able to use in the future. For example if you work for an MOT centre then you’ll not only learn a lot about how to fix various problems with vehicles but you’ll also learn about the ins and outs of running a business in the motor trade.

Cons

You’re not independent – Although there are some bit pros to working for someone else, you do not have the same freedom as you do running your own business and will have to do as you’re told most of the time.

Setting up your own business

Pros

You’re in control – One of the main reasons to start up your own motor trade business, other than making money of course, is that you have full control over it. You can set up exactly the type of business you want, in the area of your choosing and run it exactly as you see fit. You don’t have this freedom when working for somebody else.

Option to expand – Running your own business also means you have the option to expand it if it’s a success.

Cons

You’ll need to get your own insurance – As a young person, finding motor trade insurance at an affordable rate can be a challenge. Insurers usually see young people in general as more of a liability.That being said you can get young persons motor trade insurance from specialist providers.

There is a risk your business will fail – Of course there is always the chance that your business might not be a success. You can reduce this risk by keeping your overheads to a minimum and only working in an area where you have experience.

Driving a taxi for a living can be a great way to make a living. You’re constantly meeting new people and don’t have to be stuck behind a desk all day.

If you’re considering becoming a black cab driver then you should find the information below extremely useful.

Minimum requirements

In order to become a black cab driver, there are certain minimum requirements you’ll need to meet. Although these can vary, in general you’ll need to –

Be at least 21 years old

Have a full UK drivers licence

Be eligible to live and work in the UK

In addition to this there are also medical requirements you must meet in order to work as a black cab driver.

Getting a licence

Black cabs are public hire vehicles. This means that unlike private hire vehicles, they can display a ‘taxi’ sign on the cab and also be hailed from the street. This being the case you need to apply for a public hire taxi driver’s licence in order to work as a black cab driver.

The requirements for getting a licence vary from one city to the next. Assuming you want to become a black cab driver in London, the requirements are –

You must be of good character – You will need to submit to a criminal background check in order to apply for a taxi driver’s licence in London.

You must be medically fit – You will also need to undergo a medical exam with someone who has access to your medical records in order to show that you’re physically fit enough to work.

You must pass the Knowledge –The Knowledge is a notoriously difficult competence test that all London black cab drivers must pass. In order to pass you must show that you have an intimate knowledge of all of London’s roads and landmarks. Although the Knowledge is unique to London, every council will require you to take some kind of competence test in order to work.

Getting insurance

In order to work as a black cab driver, you’ll need to have the right insurance in place. There are many insurance providers who offer black cab insurance so finding the right policy shouldn’t prove too difficult.

Before you get wrapped up in the excitement of buying a home, you need to prepare for things you may run up against in the mortgage application process. Following the steps below could save you tens of thousands of dollars or even mean the difference in whether you can buy your dream home or not.

But there are BIG, BIG problems with mortgage escrow accounts. These problems are happening with much greater frequency than just a couple years ago. Foreclosures are only PART of the problem, and that’s a topic for another article.

For Example: A recent quote comparison for a $300,000 home showed it would be $156.00 a year less for the $1000 deductible. If you take the $156.00 savings and multiply it by eight years – which is the average in this area for home insurance claims – the savings would be $1248.00. If you need to file a claim $1248 – $500 = $748. You would still be ahead.

If you live close to a police station, you may not need more than the basics of a home security system. Good locks and maybe an alarm system. You already have the advantage of a police station close to you. You can also expect lower rates.

B. How much is the rehab going to cost? I have seen a lot of people in this business that are very experienced. The majority of them will tell you that their rehabilitation cost will run 1 1/2 more than they expected or estimated. It’s a must to build in cost over runs. If you are a new investor take your estimated cost and double them for figuring your rehab.

Smoking adds to the risk of a fire in your house. And statistics have it that over 23,000 residential fires annually could be linked to smoking. Non-smoking homes get better rates than households with smokers. For people who smoke, bear in mind that you’re eligible for a downward review in your rate once you’ve quit smoking for more than twelve months.

When getting insurance claims ready, get several price estimates from different contractors. Be sure you keep all documentation and receipts for work you did in an emergency so you don’t incur more loss. Also, keep track of your expenses, such as lodging.

No Liability. Unlike other types of real estate investing, there is no liability with a tax lien. When you purchase a tax lien, you are not purchasing the property and you don’t have any liability for it. You don’t need Visit LIsted Property Insure.

You can make use of this option if you have a medical history that has made health insurance carriers either reject you or give you a rate that is too high. This type of card does not exclude anyone for any reason. Simply pay your monthly fee and you’ll have access to a network of doctors who will bill you less for their services.

I know your wish is to get an insurance company with qualities you can trust but this can not be done in a hush. Patient is all you need before you can achieve this. To make the right choice you need to take your time and give all the quotes you might get a thorough scrutinizing. When you are insuring you home ensure that you cover everything in your house including your properties.